Victor Wembanyama is set to take the court Tuesday night for Game 5 of the NBA second-round playoff series between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, but not everyone is happy about it. The series is knotted at two games apiece, with the winner moving one step closer to the Western Conference Finals.
Wembanyama's availability was thrown into question after he was ejected early in the second quarter of Game 4 for throwing an elbow that sent Timberwolves center Naz Reid to the hardwood. The NBA reviewed the incident Monday and decided against suspending or fining the 7-foot-4 rookie sensation—a decision that drew sharp criticism from ESPN analyst and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins.
"Victor Wembanyama should have been suspended for tonight's game. Real talk," Perkins said on "Get Up." "This man looked him in the eyes and lined him up and threw a malicious elbow, a vicious elbow. You know what Adam Silver and the NBA said to the rest of the league? We prioritize stardom and views over the health of our players. This about protecting the brand, not the names on the back of the jersey."
Perkins' fiery take highlights the ongoing tension between protecting star players and maintaining competitive integrity. Wembanyama, who averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game during the regular season, earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors. He exploded for 39 points and 15 rebounds in Game 3, a 115-108 Spurs win, but managed just four points and four rebounds before his ejection in Game 4, which the Timberwolves won 114-109.
Not everyone agrees with Perkins, though. Many analysts—and the Spurs themselves—argue that Wembanyama's early exit in Game 4 was punishment enough. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson defended his star, pointing to the physical abuse Wembanyama endures on a nightly basis.
"I'm glad (Wembanyama) took matters into his own hands," Johnson told The Athletic. "Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, by all means (I'm) being very clear about that. I'm glad Naz Reid is OK, and I didn't want him to elbow him. But he's going to have to protect himself if they're not. And I think it's disgusting."
Meanwhile, Reid is expected to suit up for Game 5 after suffering an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Game 4. The Timberwolves and Spurs tip off at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday on NBC and Peacock, with everything on the line.